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Lydia Ko in danger of missing first LPGA cut after bizarre tree incident

Apr 3, 2015; Rancho Mirage, CA, USA; Lydia Ko tees off on the fifth hole during the second round of the ANA Inspiration at Mission Hills CC - Dinah Shore Tournament Course. Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Ahead of this week's Volunteers of America North Texas LPGA Shootout, world No. 1 Lydia Ko said she would donate her entire check for the week to charities helping Nepal after the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake that has left over 5,000 dead.

Unfortunately, Ko is in danger of not receiving a check and missing her first-ever LPGA cut after an opening 4-over 75 at Las Colinas C.C. in Irving, Texas.

Ko's entire round was stymied by an unfortunate three-hole stretch on the back nine. Coming to the tee at the par-4 14th, Ko was 2 under par on the round. However, her third shot landed in a tree and, despite the best efforts of her tree-climbing caddie Jason Hamilton, the ball would not fall to the ground. In the end, LPGA rules officials -- perhaps mistakenly -- declared Ko could take an unplayable lie en route to a triple-bogey 7.

It didn't get better from there, with Ko going double bogey, bogey on the next two par 4s.

In 50 career LPGA starts, both as an amateur and a pro, Ko has never missed the cut.


Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.